Isabella sat on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as she carefully unwrapped the bandages from the first-aid kit. The soft glow of the lamp cast a warm light over the room, but the atmosphere felt heavy, weighed down by the emotional storm that hung between the two sisters. Ariana sat across from her, her body battered, bruised, and broken from six months of captivity. The bruises on her face were still visible, and the cuts on her arms and legs were only beginning to heal, but the pain in her eyes was far deeper than any physical wound.

Isabella’s throat tightened as she gingerly touched the raw skin of Ariana’s wrists where the ropes had bitten into her flesh. The marks were dark and swollen, a cruel reminder of the hell she had endured. Isabella took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain steady. Her hands moved with precision, cleaning the wounds with soft, gentle strokes, but inside, she was a mess. Her heart ached for her sister, and every time she glanced up and saw the hollow look in Ariana’s eyes, it shattered her a little more.

“I’m so sorry,” Isabella whispered, her voice breaking.

Ariana remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floor. She hadn’t spoken much since they’d brought her home, and Isabella understood. She knew that words weren’t enough to heal the pain, but she couldn’t help the guilt that gnawed at her. She had failed to protect her sister, and now, seeing the damage done, the weight of that failure felt unbearable.

Isabella swallowed hard and dabbed at a particularly nasty cut on Ariana’s arm. The skin was rough and raw, and as she pressed the antiseptic to it, Ariana winced but said nothing. It was a small reaction, but it was enough to make Isabella pause. She lowered the cotton swab and looked up at her sister.

“Ari,” she whispered, her voice soft and filled with emotion. “Please... talk to me.”

Ariana finally lifted her eyes, meeting Isabella’s gaze. There was a flicker of something in them, something like pain mixed with exhaustion. She blinked slowly, as if trying to decide whether to speak or remain silent. When she finally opened her mouth, her voice was barely above a whisper.

“I... I didn’t think I’d make it back.”

Isabella’s heart clenched, her breath catching in her throat. She reached out, placing a hand gently on Ariana’s knee, her fingers curling slightly as she fought to keep herself from breaking down. “But you did,” she said, her voice trembling. “You’re here now. You’re safe.”

Ariana shook her head slowly, her lips trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. “I didn’t want to give up, but... there were moments when I thought they’d break me, Bella. There were moments when I wanted to die.”

Isabella couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. They spilled from her eyes, streaming down her cheeks as she listened to her sister’s words. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to make the pain go away. All she could do was sit there, trying to steady her hands as she continued to clean the wounds, hoping that the care she was giving would somehow make up for the months of suffering Ariana had endured.

“They’re gone now,” Isabella said after a long pause, her voice hoarse with emotion. “We made sure of that. The Italians... they won’t ever hurt you again.”

Ariana let out a shaky breath, her eyes closing for a brief moment as if trying to absorb those words. But when she opened them again, the tears that had been brimming finally fell, cascading down her cheeks. She wiped at them quickly, but it was too late. The floodgates had opened, and before she could stop herself, she let out a small sob.

Isabella’s heart broke at the sound. She set aside the bandages and immediately pulled Ariana into her arms, holding her tightly. Ariana’s body shook with quiet sobs as she buried her face in Isabella’s shoulder, her hands gripping her sister’s shirt as if afraid to let go.

Isabella stroked her back, whispering soothing words into her hair. “I’m so sorry, Ari... I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you sooner.”

Ariana clung to her, her tears soaking into Isabella’s shirt, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was that she was here, that her sister was alive, and that they were together. The weight of the past six months, the guilt, the fear, the anger—it all came crashing down in that moment, and for the first time since Ariana’s capture, they allowed themselves to be vulnerable, to break down in each other’s arms.

“It’s not your fault,” Ariana finally whispered through her tears, her voice shaky. “You couldn’t have known... you couldn’t have stopped them.”

“But I should have,” Isabella replied, her voice thick with guilt. “I should have done something, anything. I should have protected you.”

Ariana pulled back slightly, wiping at her eyes as she looked at Isabella with a pained expression. “You did what you could, Bella. You fought for me... you saved me. That’s all that matters.”

Isabella shook her head, her tears still flowing freely. “I just... I can’t stand the thought of what they did to you. I should’ve been there for you.”

Ariana took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She reached up and gently cupped Isabella’s cheek, her thumb brushing away the tears. “You were always there for me, even when you couldn’t physically be. I knew you were fighting to bring me back. That’s what kept me going.”

Isabella placed her hand over Ariana’s, her heart swelling with emotion. The strength her sister had, even after everything, was astounding. Ariana had been through hell, but she was still here, still fighting, and that resilience was something Isabella admired deeply.

“I love you,” Isabella whispered, her voice cracking as more tears fell. “I love you so much, Ari.”

Ariana smiled weakly, her own tears still fresh on her face. “I love you too, Bella. Always.”

They sat in silence for a while after that, the only sound in the room being their soft breathing as they held each other. It was a moment of healing, a moment where the scars of the past began to fade, if only just a little.

Isabella eventually pulled away, though her hand remained on Ariana’s shoulder. She looked down at the remaining wounds on her sister’s body and resumed treating them, her touch gentle but firm.

As she worked, Ariana finally spoke again, her voice still soft but steady. “I kept thinking about you. While I was there, I kept telling myself that you’d come for me. And you did.”

Isabella swallowed hard, trying to push back the emotion that threatened to overtake her once more. “I would’ve done anything to bring you back.”

Ariana nodded, her eyes glassy as she watched Isabella. “I know. That’s why I never gave up.”

For the first time since she had been rescued, Ariana’s lips curled into a small, fragile smile. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make Isabella’s heart swell with hope. She had her sister back, and no matter how broken the world around them felt, they would rebuild together.

Once Isabella finished treating the last of Ariana’s wounds, she helped her into a fresh set of clothes, a loose, comfortable dress that wouldn’t aggravate the injuries. Ariana winced as she moved, but she didn’t complain, her quiet resilience shining through.

When she was dressed, Isabella sat back down beside her on the bed, her hand finding Ariana’s once again. “We’re going to get through this,” Isabella said softly, her eyes locked on her sister’s. “Together.”

Ariana squeezed her hand, her expression soft but determined. “Together.”

In that moment, Isabella knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them side by side, just as they always had. The pain of the past would linger, but they would heal. And for the first time in months, Isabella allowed herself to believe that there was hope for a brighter future.